Police in Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo on Monday searched the offices of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), apparently looking for weapons, a party official said.
”They have started the search for arms of war at our offices,” MDC spokesperson Maxwell Zimuto told Agence France-Presse.
”These are dubious allegations. I suspect what they are doing is a retaliation against our successful rally held here on Sunday.”
On Sunday Arthur Mutambara, the new leader of a faction of the split MDC, pledged to build a strong party to challenge President Robert Mugabe’s 26-year grip on power, during his first rally attended by about 4 000 people.
Zimuto said six police officers were camped at their offices. Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said he did not have any information about the search.
The raid came after police in the eastern border town of Mutare arrested seven people in connection with an arms cache that security officials discovered on March 7 as part of an alleged plot to overthrow Mugabe.
An opposition MP and four others were however released last week after the state withdrew the charges.
Meanwhile, veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was on Sunday elected for a fresh tenure to lead his splintered party.
”The president has been nominated unopposed,” declared MDC national chairperson Isaac Matongo after a two-day convention in the capital attended by thousands of supporters.
Tsvangirai closed the convention lamenting deteriorating standards of living among the majority of Zimbabweans and pledging to ”lead from the front” in protests against Mugabe’s rule.
”I promise to use all available resources and will power to see off the tyranny in Zimbabwe today,” Tsvangirai, wearing a light-blue ethnic design shirt and black trousers, said to rapturous applause from the crowd.
”We must resolve this national crisis. The dictator must brace himself for a long, bustling winter across the country. The bustle should lead us to a bright political season.”
”A storm is on the horizon.”
He did not say in what form and when the protests would take place but urged Zimbabweans to stock up provisions in anticipation of the protests. – Sapa